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Weekly Comment |
Do we Still Doubt Zionist Israel
as a Racist Entity?
Going by the record of Israeli
policies, what came from the
podium of Bar-Illan University’s
auditorium the other day was not
surprising. Speaking in Hebrew,
Benjamin Netanyahu had to allay
fears of his right-wing
constituency by assuring that
settlement expansion will not
stop. The other side of the
'balancing act' was to keep
Barack Obama at bay by
suggesting that he would accept
the creation of a Palestinian
state.
Netanyahu’s
Palestinian state, however, will
be a stripped-down one:
demilitarised and possibly
without direct outside borders.
It will have no claim for
Jerusalem. It shall also be
required to abrogate the right
of return of well over 5 million
refugees living in Lebanon,
Jordan and beyond...
Why
is this so? The return of the
Palestinian refugee population
would dilute the nature of
Israel as a Jewish state!
In reaction to this, Majed
Al Zeer, Director of the
Palestinian Return Centre in
London had this to say:
“Palestinians are continually
being told to abandon any
preconditions for peace and
Israel continues to set all
kinds of unreasonable
preconditions on Palestinians.”
Who stands in the way of
peace now?
A Disturbing Trend…: An
UUCSA Statement
All praise is due to Allah who
has brought the hearts of
believers together so that they
exist as brethren through His
mercy. May His choicest
salutations continue to descend
upon our Master and Leader
Muhammad who nurtured the
brotherhood of believers through
his teachings of respect and
tolerance.
The Muslim
community in South Africa is
undoubtedly faced with many
daunting challenges. It has to
deal with a host of issues that
did not exist in the past. These
issues naturally give rise to
differences of opinion among the
Ulama. These differences must be
respected and dealt with the
decorum expected of us as
Muslims.
The United
Ulama Council of South Africa
(UUCSA) is perturbed and
dismayed at the ever increasing
use of malicious pamphleteering
in the name of Islam. These
publications issued under
various pseudonyms do not enjoy
the support of the overwhelming
majority of Ulama in South
Africa. The United Ulama Council
of South Africa calls upon all
the Muslims of South Africa to
rise above emotion and address
issues objectively. If academic
differences are not managed in a
dignified manner, derogatory
publications will only further
sow the seeds of discord in the
Ummah and further fray the
fabric of our society
The
manner and style of these
publications are clearly
inconsistent with the teachings
of the Quran, Sunnah and the
conduct of our illustrious
predecessors. They serve no
purpose other than to cause
hurt, major controversy,
disunity, and confusion among
the broader Muslim community.
Divisive and derisive
pamphleteering and name calling
relegates our otherwise noble
efforts to no more than
political bickering and
acrimonious debate.
In
Surah Hujurat, Allah Ta’aala
warns us against discord and
conflict, both in word and deed;
we are cautioned against name
calling and reviling others. It
serves only to widen the gulf of
hostility and adversity making
the hearts become harder and
reconciliation and unity more
difficult.
Statement
endorsed by all the members of
the United Ulama Council of
South Africa comprising of: the
Muslim Judicial Council;
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN); Jamiatul
Ulama (formerly Transvaal);
Sunni Ulama Council; Sunni
Jamiatul Ulama; Eastern Cape
Ulama Council, and the Eastern
Cape Islamic Congress
13 June 2009 |
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C O N T E N T
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Summarised
Jumuah Bayaan |
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Question and
Answer |
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Update |
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Message from the Ameer |
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I N F O R M A
T I O N |
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Min. Mahr |
R 135.98 |
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Mahr Faatimi |
R 6,798.94 |
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Zakaat Nisaab |
R 2,719.58 |
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Words of Wisdom |
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Hadith of the Week |
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Charity |
Narrated Abu Hurayrah Radhi
Allahu anhu who said:
AbuDharr Radhi Allahu anhu
said: “Prophet of Allah
Salallahu alayhi wasallam,
the wealthy people have all
the rewards; they pray as we
pray; they fast as we fast;
and they have surplus wealth
which they give in charity;
but we have no wealth which
we may give in charity.” The
Messenger of Allah Salallahu
alayhi wasallam said: “Abu
Dharr Radhi Allahu anhu,
should I not teach you
phrases by which you acquire
the rank of those who excel
you? No one can acquire your
rank except one who acts
like you.” He said: “Why
not, Apostle of Allah?” He
said: “Exalt Allah (say:
Allahu Akbar) after each
prayer thirty-three times;
and praise Him (say:
Alhamdulillah) thirty-three
times; and glorify Him (say:
Sub-hanallah) thirty-three
times, and end it by saying,
"There is no god but Allah
alone, there is no partner,
to Him belongs the Kingdom,
to Him praise is due and He
has power over everything".
His sins will be forgiven,
even if they are like the
foam of the sea.
(Sunan Abu Dawud) |
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Quotation
of
the Week |
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In Allah's Favour |
If you can be unknown, be
so; it doesn’t matter if you
are not known and it doesn’t
matter if you are not
praised. It doesn’t matter
if you are blameworthy
according to people if you
are praiseworthy with Allâh
the Mighty and Majestic.
(Al-Fudayl b. ‘Ayyâd
Rahmatullah ‘alayhi) |
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Point of Reflection |
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Experience |
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"Experience is what you get
when you don't get what you
wanted."
(Unknown) |
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Q and A |
Question:
I have
a collection box (with
Lillah money inside) of a
Islamic Institute which
closed down about a year
ago, is it permissible for
me to donate the money in
the collection box to
another Islamic institute? |
Answer:
It will be permissible to
give the collected money to
another organization doing
the same or similar work as
the initial one that the
money was intended for.
<Go to
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U P D A T E |
Another Opportunity for Earning
Thawaab Jaariya
Alhamdulillah the budget for a
new musallah at OR Tambo
International Airport’s new
terminal was reached. The
Jamiatul Ulama would like to
thank all those who contributed
to this project which has
already started as reported in
the newsletter’s earlier
edition.
Meanwhile, an
appeal is hereby extended to all
Muslims to contribute to the
Jamiatul Ulama’s collaborative
initiative with Ikhwana Islamiya
in Soweto where an Islamic
centre is nearing completion.
The project, which is under
Siddiqi Trust shall comprise of
a mosque, imam’s house as well
as madrasah classrooms in
Orlando East, Soweto. This is
yet another opportunity for
earning thawaab jaariya.
Electronic fund transfer details
are as follows:
Name of
Account: Siddiqi Trust
Bank:
HBZ Bank Ltd
Branch:
Fordsburg
Code: 570105
Account No.: 11 901 121864
Via ABSA
Name of Account:
HBZ Bank Ltd
Branch Code:
632005
Account No.: 0101 323
1601
Ref: 21008105 (MUST
Quote. Very Important.)
Via Standard Bank
Name of
Account: HBZ Bank Ltd
Branch
Code: 00520508
Account No.:
002 502 410
Ref: 21008105
(MUST Quote. Very Important.)
Kindly fax deposit slip for
record purposes to: 011 373 8022
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Summarised Jumu’ah
Bayaan: |
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Caring for the
Elderly |
“And We cause whom We
will to remain in the
wombs for an appointed
term, then We bring you
out as infants, then
(give you growth) that
you may reach your age
of full strength. And
among you there is he
who passes away (young),
and among you there is
he who is brought back
to the miserable old
age, so that he knows
nothing after having
known...” (22:5)
• The elderly in every
society are a very
important sector which
tends to be overlooked
and neglected. They are
not respected and not
cared for in a manner
which they deserve. In
many a Western society,
this stratum are subject
to living in old age
homes, thus cutting them
off from the broader
community.
•
Islam teaches us to
respect the elderly
whether they are our
parents, relatives or
any other old person. It
requires much patience,
tolerance and endurance.
• Old age is
characterized by either
one the following
circumstances:
1.
Loss of biological
potency.
2. Loss of
physical vitality.
3.
Loss of mental capacity.
4. Increase in
emotional feelings and
sensitiveness.
•
An example of each of
these circumstances can
be found in the lives of
the Ambiyaa alayhis
salaam. However, they
remained steadfast on
the commands of Allah
and did not waver in
their responsibilities
towards their people.
• Loss of biological
potency: Allah recalls
the incident of
Zakariyya alayhis salaam
when he was promised
offspring at a very late
stage in life, “He
(Zakariyya) said: ‘O my
Lord! How can I have a
son when I am very old,
and my wife is barren?’
(Allah) said: ‘Thus
Allah does what He
wills.” (3:40) Similar
was the case with
Ibrahim alayhis salaam,
“(Ibrahim) said: ‘Do you
give me glad tidings (of
a son) when old age has
overtaken me? Of what
then is your news?”
(15:54)
• Loss of
physical vitality: An
elderly person can no
longer carry out the
activities that a young
person can undertake.
The Qur’an recounts the
story of Shu‘ayb alayhis
salaam when he had
advanced in age and his
daughters carried out
chores on his behalf,
“And when he (Moosa
alayhis salaam) arrived
at the water (a well) of
Madyan he found there a
group of men giving
water (to their flocks),
and besides them he
found two women who were
keeping back (their
flocks). He said: ‘What
is the matter with you?’
They said: ‘We cannot
give water (to our
flocks) until the
shepherds take (their
flocks). And our father
(Shu‘ayb alayhis salaam)
is a very old man.”
(28:23)
• Loss of
mental capacity: During
old age an elderly
person looses mental
capacity and at times
even becomes senile. In
the above cited verse,
the Qur’an refers to
this period of life as a
return to the feebleness
that once existed during
infancy.
•
Increase in emotional
feelings and
sensitiveness: Despite
his advanced age, Ya’qub
alayhis salaam was very
sentimental and very
dearly loved his sons,
Yusuf and Binyameen.
Separation from them had
caused him great anguish
and ill health. His
conversation with his
other sons was thus,
“And he turned away from
them and said: ‘Alas, my
grief is for Yusuf.’ And
he lost his sight
because of the sorrow
that he was suppressing.
They said: ‘By Allah!
You will never cease
remembering Yusuf until
you become weak with old
age, or until you be of
the dead.’ He said: ‘I
only complain of my
grief and sorrow to
Allah, and I know from
Allah that which you
know not.”(12:84-86)
• In several
Ahaadith we have been
encouraged to be kind
and caring to those
advanced in age. The
following are some of
them: Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘I advise
you to be good to the
elderly and to have
mercy on the youth.’
(Dailami) Anas
radhiyallahu anhu
narrated that Rasulullah
sallallahu alayhi
wasallam said, ‘Any
young person who is kind
to an elderly because of
his age, Allah will send
someone who will be kind
to him when he becomes
old.’ (Tirmidhi) Amr bin
Shu‘ayb narrates through
his father from his
grandfather that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘He is not of us who
does not have mercy on
our young ones and does
not know the respect
owed to our old ones.’
(Tirmidhi)
• In
Salaah, which is the
most important form of
worship in Islam, the
Imaam has been ordered
to be considerate to
those who are elderly,
weak and incapacitated
in his congregation. If
this is with regard to
Salaah, all the more
reason we are
compassionate to them in
other circumstances. Abu
Hurairah radhiyallahu
anhu narrated that
Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wasallam said,
‘When a person leads the
congregational prayer,
let him make it brief,
as there may be the
weak, the sick and the
elderly amongst them.
However, when a person
prays by himself, he may
lengthen it as much as
he wishes.’ (Bukahri and
Muslim)
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Message from the Ameer of
the Jamiatul Ulama |
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A Sincere Appeal |
Muslim scholars of the past
did not always agree with
each other. They often
differed.
They
differed with respect, they
differed with calmness and
dignity and they differed
with decorum. They differed
in the gatherings of
knowledge, they differed in
their addresses to their
students and they differed
in forums suitable for
differing.
It is
however not true to say that
all their deliberations were
limited to respectful
disagreements that remained
with set closed doors. At
times, they disputed with
one another’s views and
clashed with each other in
impolite and discourteous
ways, sometimes even
allowing the debate to spill
over into the public forum.
The debate however never
encroached into the realm of
seeing the downfall of
another and never ever did
any of the scholars even
lightly tweak the reporting
or stating of the facts.
The current crisis in
South Africa is a matter of
concern. It is indeed a
crisis that serves to feed
the hand of the kuffaar who
wish to destroy the unity of
the Ummah and totally
obliterate any respect that
exists in the mind of the
Ummah for the Ulama.
When the debate shifts from
the issue to the person and
becomes an obsession that
cannot be fed until it sees
the destruction of the other
than the rules of the game
have changed and it is no
more an issue of differing
on issues of deen.
When the truth is somewhat
deliberately clouded and
even twisted, and events are
reported in a manner that
does not reflect an accurate
report of events, then one
must question the issue of
principle.
The Ummah
is crying - they are facing
untold challenges; injustice
and oppression is being
heaped upon them from every
corner; social evils of
every type have become the
order of the day; marriage
has become a plaything and
divorce an easy thing;
individuals, in numbers, and
even Ulama are reported to
have actually become murtad.
The range of challenges are
overwhelming.
Today,
more than ever, the Ummah
needs the guidance of the
Ulama. They are reaching out
for assistance in
confronting the tests and
trials that they face.
It is my sincere appeal
that Ulama see the danger of
where the current crisis is
going.
There can be
no benefit, only harm - to
the Ulama and the Ummah –
such harm that will be hard,
if not almost impossible, to
reverse.
May Allah
guide us all, in all that we
do. Aameen.
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